Knight of the Empress (22 page)

"Then many men will die assaulting these mighty walls.  Remember Edward, do not let knights head south on the road. I fear that William of Morpeth may wish to wreak revenge upon my manor. This is one of the main reasons I chose this as our way into the castle.  It controls the road and gives us access to the gate."

Dick nodded, "Do not worry, my lord.  I will have archers watching the road.  None shall pass."

The three of us were barefoot and we walked around the bend in the river towards the stone bridge which the bishop had built across the river. We were walking over rough ground and the harsh winter had broken many of the stones so that, by the time dawn broke and we were closer to the bridge, our feet were cut and bleeding.  It would aid the illusion that we were pilgrims who had come a long way. We made our way to the top of the low hill which was opposite the bridge and we waited under a large elm tree for the road to Durham to become busy. I knew that they would be watchful but Durham was a busy place and with the extra garrison it would require more food than it had stored.  I counted on busy traffic across the bridge and through the gate. We watched dawn as it broke in the east.

We rested but did not sleep.  Hidden from the road we could hear the carts and the people as they headed for the castle. At first a trickle, it became a throng as the morning progressed.  We joined after a pair of carts had passed. We would walk in between the two of them. The man leading the horse of the first cart turned and said, "Good morning, father."

I made the sign of the cross and blessed him in Latin. "Good morning, my son. This road is busy.  I had thought it to be quiet."

"It normally is but the castle has many visitors." He pointed at my bleeding feet.  "You look to have travelled far."

"We are here on pilgrimage to see Saint Cuthbert's bones."

"He was a great man.  Many who have been to see them have had miraculous cures." He and his son who accompanied him spent the last mile or so to the bridge telling us stories of the cures.  The result was that we did not even have to tell our story to the sentries at the bridge.  They waved us across with the carts. I could have brought my sword! Once over the bridge the road wound up to the walls of the bailey.  Our carter friend halted his cart.  "We will rest the horses here, father, and carry our goods up to the castle."

"We can help, my son."

The carter shook his head, "No father, for you are on God's work and making a pilgrimage."

We trudged up the hill.  I saw that an attacker would have to endure arrows, stones and spears all the way to the main gate. We passed the stalls and the booths selling food and other necessities.  It was already busy and I could see why the carter had left his horse at the foot of the hill. He would have struggled to find the space for the horse and the cart.  There was a throng of people in Durham.

This time we were stopped at the main gate into the castle proper.  There were four men at arms and they crossed their poleaxes before us. I had my cowl over my head to help with my disguise and I peered up from beneath the dark recess but I did not recognise them.

"What is your business, father?"

"We have travelled from Mount Grace to pay homage to St Cuthbert and seek his help." I held out my hand and took Aiden's maimed one. "Our brother here was attacked by a wolf in the winter and he cannot use his fingers.  We believe that St Cuthbert can heal him."

"Aye we had problems with wolves too, father." He shook his head, "What a shame to lose a hand when so young.  Pass, father, but expect to be challenged." He leaned in, "There are enemies a plenty.  If you are stopped then say that Roger of Rothbury allowed you to pass."

"Thank you, my son," I made the sign of the cross, "God will reward your kindness."

We entered the castle and crossed the green towards the Cathedral.  It would not do to study the keep too much and we would have time enough for that later on. There were more stalls and booths close to the cathedral.  Pilgrims often looked to purchase something after they had visited the cathedral and the saint's shrine. St Cuthbert must have been a mighty man to have so many bones.  Every booth offered us a digit of the saint or a lock of his hair.  As soon as we said we were Carthusians we were ignored.  That order shunned wealth of any description. We were considered as the lowest of the low for we had no coins.

The Cathedral doors were open. Inside there were worshippers who had prostrated themselves on the floor of the mighty Cathedral.  Although I had visited Durham many times I had yet to visit the interior. A lay brother approached us and spoke in Latin. He asked our business.  When I said we were Carthusians he too became disinterested. Had we been Benedictines or Cistercians then he would have seen the potential for a donation.  I waved a hand, excitedly in the direction of the crypt and we headed towards the other pilgrims who were there.  As we approached I saw that many of them were knights. I pulled my hood further forward, grateful for the Stygian gloom. It would not do to be recognised here.

We waited patiently for spaces to appear. The four knights who turned almost knocked us over.  When they saw our habits they apologised. "Sorry, father we did not see you."

"There is no need to apologise my son, God forgives all in this holy place.  Go with God."

As I made the sign of the cross they bowed and scurried off. We knelt by the crypt for some time to show our penitence. After a suitable time had elapsed we walked back into the light of the Palace Green.  There was a stall selling small cakes with a cross in the middle.  The smell made me hungry.  Surprisingly the stall holder approached us and bowed with an offering in his hand, "Father, some knights came out and said to give the three barefoot monks food." He handed us two of the cakes.

I shook my head, "We have no coins or wealth, my son.  We are Carthusians, a poor order."

"The knights paid.  They said you had blessed them."

As we took the cakes and headed for a quiet corner of the green I wondered what they would think when they faced my sword? We sat well away from anyone else and slowly ate our cakes. We needed to become part of the Cathedral so that no one noticed us. I was studying the defences.  I could see the postern gate and its two sentries. I believed we could easily dispose of those.  The gate into the keep was a larger problem. It was guarded by one knight and six men at arms.  No one was getting through. I had already seen that the gate from the town and the bridge was heavily guarded too. My men could take the bridge but they would never be able to take the barbican.  It would be up to Dick and my archers. I looked carefully at the gate into the keep.  There looked to be an entrance at the level of the green and then two more which led, from the first floor to the ramparts. That gave me hope.  We could use the ramparts to gain entrance to the gatehouse in the keep.  With that secure we had a chance.

As the afternoon wore on I became worried that we would be noticed.  The stalls and the booths departed leaving us conspicuous on the green.  I led my two companions back into the Cathedral.  It was almost empty now.  The priest who had approached us before frowned as we entered. "We close the doors when it becomes dark brother."

I nodded and smiled. "Brother Aiden's hand showed signs of improvement after we visited the relics.  Show him Brother Aiden." Aiden waggled one finger.  "When we arrived he could move none of them.  This is a miracle.  Allow us to stay within until dark, brother. God works in mysterious ways."

I saw the priest already adding to the story so that the miracle of St Cuthbert could continue.  Miracles such as this, especially to a maimed priest, would bring even more pilgrims to the crypt and that meant more money.

"Of course, brother.  Praise God!"

We prostrated ourselves next to the tomb.  When the priest had departed to the doors we rose. Once it became dark then we could begin our real work.

"I am sorry brothers but we must close the doors." The priest leaned in and said quietly, "There are many unsavoury soldiers in the castle and they are not averse to taking our plate and our candlesticks."

We had managed to last until almost dark but now the priest was ejecting us."I understand and the Saint is helping Brother Aiden.  He can feel more in one of his other fingers.  We shall return tomorrow. With the help of Saint Cuthbert and God he shall be cured."

"Have you somewhere to sleep?" Since the apparent miracle the priest had become friendlier.

"We are a poor order and used to hardship.  We will sleep on the green."

He shook his head, "No, I insist that you come to the chapter house and share our food.  Then you can sleep within our walls."

I shook my head, "We will share your food but we must endure hardship.  In our own cells we sleep in hair shirts.  A night on the grass will seem like luxury to us and we need to endure pain as our lord did. We will share your food but we must abide by our rules."

He nodded sympathetically.  I daresay he was wondering why anyone would endure such rigorous rules. It is strange the way that fate intervenes.  The priest had changed completely since we had first met him and now we would have somewhere to wait while the sentries were set for the night. I had not planned this and yet it was working out better than I could have hoped.

It was dark when we bade farewell to the priests in the chapter house. The gruel we had eaten had filled a hole. We slipped along the side of the cathedral keeping to the shadows. We had found, when we had watched in daylight, a store room behind the Cathedral. It looked to contain the stones and the tools the masons were using to build the Cathedral.  Although the main work was done they had the intricate carving to finish.  It was a large empty room and we could use it later. There were now three guards there.  Two were on the walls and one was by the postern gate itself. I frowned.  This had not been in my plan. We were far enough away to be able to talk without being heard.

As we watched we saw a knight leave the gate and walk across the green.  He approached the sentry at the gate and spoke to him and then ascended the stairs.  He continued his walk back around to the far stairs and descended. I guessed he did this periodically.  We had to act before he returned.

"Harold, Aiden, could you get on the walls and take out the two sentries?"

They looked and nodded.  Harold said, "We would need a distraction."

"I can provide that.  Watch for my approach and I will speak with the guard by the postern gate." They both flitted like shadows across the green.  The wall which surrounded the castle, the Cathedral and the green was a large one and they had guards at the gates only. The nature of the defences of the castle meant that it was believed to be impossible to assault the walls.  The river and the high bluffs would stop almost every type of attack. When I saw their shadows vanish from view I walked towards the gate. As I went I slipped my dagger into my right hand.  The guard at the gate was suspicious and he called up to his two comrades.

"Ralph, someone approaches."

One of the figures on the wall, illuminated by the brand he held threw the brand down and shouted, "See who it is."

As I approached the sentry held the torch to get a better view of me.  I saw the relief on his face when he saw my habit. "You cannot approach the gate, father."

"I thought to bathe my feet in the river, my son. I hoped that Saint Cuthbert's good would extend there." I had the attention of the two men on the walls and I saw the shadows as they slipped along. 

The guard with the torch lowered it and his gaze as I lifted one foot. "They are a mess, father, but we cannot let you out.  It is more than our lives are worth. Sir William would have our eyes. He can be a cruel master."

In one motion I drew my dagger, grabbed his helmet and plunged my dagger into his throat. The two sentries above were already oozing their lives away.  Harold and Aiden had been silent assassins. I took the torch and went to the postern gate.  I waved it and then closed the gate.  I took the helmet and weapons from the dead man and, after opening the gate again, rolled his body down the slope. I discarded the monk's habit revealing my leather byrnie beneath.  I donned the helmet and grabbed the spear.  If anyone looked they would see three guards still.  Aiden and Harold were now disrobed and dressed as guards. I threw the brand up to Harold.  All had to appear as normal as possible.

It was strangely quiet.  I hoped that Dick and the archers would be able to make it across the river.  It was not moving swiftly but, even so, it would not be easy. When the door opened to reveal a bedraggled Captain of archers I was relieved. I pointed to the mason's store. "You can prepare over there."

He grinned as he handed me two bow staves and quivers, "I wondered if you would have managed it, my lord.  I should have had more faith."

I gestured at the cathedral, "This is the place for faith, Dick."

As my twelve dripping archers scurried past me I knew that we had now set things in motion and we could not halt them.  Even now Edward would be leading the rest of my men to take the bridge gate. Although it would not be easy they would be attacking when the sentries least expected it. I hoped that the Earl had managed to bring the army or this could be the end to the conroi of Baron Alfraed of Norton. If anything went wrong at this point then all fifteen of us would die and our heads would adorn the spikes on the gate.

I climbed the stairs to join Aiden and Harold now dressed in the dead guards' clothes. I gave them the bow staves and they started to string them."Can you see anything?"

Aiden pointed to the east.  "I can see the first thin line of dawn my lord.  It will not be long."

"Remember we wait until the guards go to the walls and then we enter the keep."

"Aye my lord." Harold hesitated, "Are you certain they will do that.  Will they not just stay in the keep?"

"That depends upon the Earl.  If the rebels see the banners of our army outside then they will have to defend the walls. We have cast the bones let us see how they fall. It may be that I have to come up with another strategy." I looked towards the gate to the keep. I could see the guards moving now that it was a little lighter. "Keep watch over there and listen for the sound of our attack.  I will find Dick."

The archers all had their bows strung. "Have the door ajar and you will hear the sound of the alarm bell. When you hear it then rush to the walls as though you are the guards.  With luck they will not notice where you come from. We will try to take the gatehouse from the upper level of the walls."

"We will my lord.  Do you think Edward and the knights will succeed?"

"I trust them.  If any can take the bridge and hold it then I believe we have a chance."

I walked back across the increasingly lighter green.  Suddenly I heard the clamour of battle in the distance.  My men had attacked the bridge gate. A few moments later the alarm bell in the keep sounded. Aiden and Harold strung their bows.  We looked over to the gate of the keep. It opened and knights and men at arms rushed into Palace Green and raced to the ramparts.

"Now!" I drew my sword and ran along the ramparts to the keep gate.  I knew there had to be a way in from the walls as I had seen the knight disappear during the night watch.  My two men followed me.  A handful of men emerged from the gate house and moved along the walls. They were led by a knight and as we ran towards him he shouted, "Where are you going you fool? Get back to your post."

I knew that he would soon notice my archers flooding across the green to join us and I had to distract him.  "My lord, the gate is under attack!" I pointed with my left hand and he turned.  I ran him through and my archers sent their arrows to clear the walls of those who followed him. Their bodies fell to the ground. There was so much noise that their death cries went unnoticed. I felt naked without a shield but it could not be helped. I took my dagger and held it in my left hand.

They had left the door to the keep gatehouse open and I raced through it.  There were four men at arms within. They looked in surprise at my arrival. I struck while they were still stunned. I stabbed one and ripped my dagger across the throat of a second.  As they reached for their weapons I lunged forward.  My sword caught one and the other shouted, "Treachery! Treachery!" Aiden's arrow ended his shout and I finished off the last defender.

"Harold, get down and close the gate." As he went I pointed to the door leading to the other side of the gate house. "Bar that door, Aiden."

I found a shield and, with that on my arm felt more secure. When Dick and my archers began to arrive in the tower I sent them down to help Harold.  Aiden barred the other door so that the gate tower was now secure. I ran down the stairs, I heard the clatter of sword on sword and arrived just in time to see four men at arms coming from the interior of the keep.  As Dick and his archers loosed their arrows the entrance was cleared.

"Dick, have four of your archers hold the gate until we have found the Bishop. Harold, grab a shield!" The gate was now as secure as it could be.  Most of the defenders were now on the castle walls or in the towers at the main gate and along the wall.

If we could hold the keep then the men on the walls might be forced to surrender to the Earl.  All I had were Aiden, Harold and twelve archers.  It was hardly an army.  I just hoped that the majority of the garrison were on the walls. I led my men up the stairs.  They were designed to aid the defender but, thankfully, there were none who were coming down. We emerged on the first floor.  I could hear raised voices coming from the Great Hall.  I moved, silently, towards it.  The rest of my men followed Harold behind me.  We had three of us with swords and one of those was Aiden; he was no swordsman.  The odds were not in our favour,

I listened, mainly to gauge numbers. They were Norman voices. "Give it up William of Morpeth.  You have gambled and lost."

I heard Sir William's voice.  "We have lost nothing.  They have captured the bridge and that is all. So long as we hold the keep we can laugh away a siege.  We are well prepared."

I heard the voice which I assumed was Bishop Flambard's, "If that is Robert of Caen outside then the siege will not be a long one.  Surrender to me now and I will give you terms."

I heard a blow and a clatter as someone was knocked over, "There are my terms, Bishop. You are our hostage and the Earl of Gloucester will not risk your life!"

I had heard enough.  I heard other movement in the hall but it did not suggest large numbers.

I waved my archers to move beyond us and then I leapt into the room.  The Bishop of Durham lay on the ground being tended to by a pair of priests.  Sir William and three of his knights were in the middle of the room and there were four men at arms.  We had surprise on our side and I used it. I hurled myself towards them swinging my sword as I did so. I took one knight by surprise.  He was still drawing his sword as I sliced down and across his neck.  It was not a good sword I had taken but it hacked into his neck and he fell dead at my feet. I threw the sword at one of the men at arms who came at me with his spear levelled.  He ducked and I dropped to my knees to pick up the sword the knight had been drawing.  As I did so I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. I flung my shield around and knocked the blade of William of Morpeth to the side.

I saw blood on his blade and knew I had been struck. "I will end now what Odo should have done. You may be a fine knight when wearing armour but that piece of leather will not lengthen your life."

I concentrated on what I would do and I ignored his words. I swung at his head.  He had picked up his shield and he parried my blow.  When he hacked at my shield I found I had no power in my arm.  I was pushed back. As I stumbled backwards I saw that my archers' bows were of little use in such a confined space and they had to use their swords and daggers. 

Seeing my weakness, William of Morpeth swung again at my shield.  I anticipated it.  I could not take many such blows and I spun around so that his blade missed me completely.  I brought my sword around and hit his back.  It did not sever the mail but it hurt him. Before he could turn I threw myself at his back and he tumbled to the ground. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a man at arms hurl himself and his pole axe toward me.  As I rolled away I saw Dick stab the man at arms but my movement allowed Sir William to leap to his feet and flee towards the tower of the keep, I ran after him.  I could feel the blood as it trickled down my back.  That in a way was reassuring for it was not gushing. I heard steps on the stairs behind me and saw that Harold and Aiden were following.  Aiden had blood flowing from a scalp wound but he was grinning and I knew it was not life threatening.

As I stepped out into the light I had to react quickly as one of the tower sentries lunged at me. His sword slid across my middle. The leather prevented it slicing into me. I hacked down with my own sword and lunged at him with my shield held up. He tumbled over and cracked his head on the stone of the tower. I just managed to bring my shield up as a crossbowman sent a bolt in my direction. It pierced the shield.  I ran at him before he could reload and I ran him through. Dick and the archers joined me.  Ignoring everyone else I made for Sir William. I would leave them to deal with the rest of those who manned the tower.

Despite his wounding of me he was afraid.  I could see it in his eyes. This had to end quickly.  If I died then my men might lose heart and we would be defeated.  If the Earl did not take Durham then my people might be in danger.  My father's words came into my head,
'They are your people. You must protect them.
'